Travel Guides

Navigation

The Alamo

The Alamo has assumed mythological significance in American
culture. The Alamo was originally built as a mission by Spanish
priest in 1724, and was named Mision San antonio de Valera. In
1794, the Spanish missionaries secularized the land and gave it to
the converts living there in order to continue their farming.

However, in the early 1800's the Spanish military stationed a
cavalry at the old mission station, and it's then that the place's
history began to change. The cavalry men began calling the mission
the Alamo, a reference to their hometown in Spain, and during the
following wars over Texas, the Alamo played a very important role.
Davy Crocket and his small party held out for 13 days against a
2,500-strong Mexican army before finally being overrun and
executed.

The Alamo is now described as the cradle of Texan liberty and
for years after the siege Texans would cry "Remember the Alamo"
during battle. The actual Alamo building is smaller than most
visitors expect, and its gravitas slightly undermined by tacky
amusement park rides and souvenir shops. That doesn't daunt
millions of annual visitors who make a pilgrimage here, often
without really knowing why.